Do you experience aches and pains? Worried about falling? Starting your journey on the yoga mat to enhance stability, mobility, and flexibility might be a great option.
Considering incorporating stretching into your active lifestyle? For those actively aging, yoga emphasizes 'functional movement,' which mirrors everyday activities. Whether it's sitting on a chair, reaching into an overhead cupboard, or checking your blind spot while driving, these 'functional movements' can be performed more comfortably and confidently with regular practice on the mat.
Building strength and stamina through exercise not only prevents loss of bone mass but also improves balance and reduces the risk of falling. Additionally, regular exercise can help stimulate internal processes such as digestion and elimination.
Interestingly, adults who start exercising later in life often see greater physical and mental improvements than their younger counterparts. If you’re new to exercise or returning after a break, you’ll likely be free from the sports-related injuries that many regular exercisers accumulate over time. For more information, see this link.
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/exercise-and-fitness-as-you-age.htm
According to the Canadian Pain Task Force, almost 8 million people of all ages live in pain. It is more common as we age. The estimate is that one in three people over 65 experience chronic pain.
Research is ongoing.
We do know that yoga works on a number of levels and on the connection between mind and body. When yoga techniques like movement and conscious breathing are practiced your heart rate may slow, your body may release fewer stress hormones and for most, the “relaxation response” is initiated. All positive things for the nervous systems.
We do know the strongest findings so far are for yoga and back pain. And recent research offers encouraging evidence that mind and body practices including yoga may help relieve some fibromyalgia symptoms.
It seems that yoga works like other exercises do. Regular, steady practice over time is the most likely way yoga will positively impact any aspect of wellbeing.
Keep in mind there is no one yoga for every body and it may not be a stand-alone solution for you. In a perfect world yoga could be one part of a broader pain management plan developed for you by a healthcare provider - a plan that is tailored to you.
Here are a couple links to current biomedical research findings on yoga and pain.
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